NHS Trust reports more norovirus cases and offers prevention tips to residents

East London hospitals, including King George Hospital, are seeing more cases of norovirus, the winter vomiting bug, and the primary care trust has issued advice to Redbridge residents as a result.

NHS North East London and the City says more cases are being reported than normal for this time of year and is recommending patients stay at home for two to three days if suffering from infectious gastroenteritis with symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting.

Washing your hands before eating and after going to the toilet is another tip in beating the bug and people with symptoms shouldn’t prepare food for others.

Redbridge GP Dr Hector Spiteri said: “This is an unpleasant illness, but the symptoms will usually pass if you stay at home and rest for two to three days.

“If you are suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting, please do not go to your GP or your local A&E department. You should stay away from schools and day centres and not visit friends in hospital or care homes as people there are particularly susceptible to picking up the bug.”

If symptoms become severe or persistent, the trust asks that patients call their GP or NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.